New build advice

[regnez]

Alright, here's what I am thinking:

Processor:
C2D E6300 Link
Heatsink/Fan:
Thermaltake Big Typhoon Link
RAM:
PQI Turbo 1G (x2) Link
Graphics:
eVGA 7800GT Link
HDD:
WD 80GB SATA (I already have this, so this is what I am using)
Mobo:
ASUS P5NSLI Link
Optical:
Samsung DVD+RW w/Lightscribe (already have this too)
PSU:
The one that comes with the Antec Sonata
Case:
Antec Sonata, obviously Link

Total Price:
~$580 shipped. I got a good deal on some of the stuff, and already had some of the cheaper things.

Any advice on better/different components, or is this setup okay?

 

[bamacre]

E6300 cheaper here...
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80858

You should get either 2x1GB or 2x512MB memory modules, so you'll run in dual channel mode.

I would not feel comfortable buying a refurb video card.

I would NOT get an nvidia based board. Get a motherboard with an Intel chipset. A Gigabyte 965P-based board is what I would recommend.

 

[regnez]

With the 6300: I have not had good luck with zipzoomfly and their customer service, so they have lost most of my business.

With the RAM: I was thinking that also, but I really don't have the money for two gig right now, and 512 would limit my future upgradeability. Is could come up with the money, if I really had to right now, but would the performance difference be noticeable right away to justify the cost?

With the VC: I agree, but again budget gets in the way... it does come with the standard newegg warranty though (which is a fantastic warranty), so that gives me a little peace of mind.

And with the board: The board I want got a pretty good review from anandtech, so I thought it would be alright, and that is one of the parts that I got a very good deal on. Would you be able to recommend a better 965 board with SLI capabilities for ~$100?

Thanks for the response/advice!

 

[bamacre]

I have had a lot of problems with that board, and the 570 chipset sucks, IMO, and I'm sure that is why Nvidia released a new C2D chipset. You won't find anything cheaper with SLI capability though.

 

[Xdreamer]

very nice. but why the 7800gt?

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should get either 2x1GB or 2x512MB memory modules, so you'll run in dual channel mode.
I would NOT get an nvidia based board. Get a motherboard with an Intel chipset. A Gigabyte 965P-based board is what I would recommend.

Agreed...

I'd forget about the SLI and go with something on the P965 chipset. The 570 chipset is old and replaced by the 650i.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017
What are you going to run in SLI anyway? 2 of the 7800s?

Also, those PSUs with the Sonata aren't too good.

 

[regnez]

Originally posted by: Xdreamer
very nice. but why the 7800gt?

Because I just needed something to start me off. I do plan to upgrade in the (reasonably) near future, though.

 

[regnez]

Originally posted by: moosey

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should get either 2x1GB or 2x512MB memory modules, so you'll run in dual channel mode.
I would NOT get an nvidia based board. Get a motherboard with an Intel chipset. A Gigabyte 965P-based board is what I would recommend.

Agreed...

I'd forget about the SLI and go with something on the P965 chipset. The 570 chipset is old and replaced by the 650i.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017
What are you going to run in SLI anyway? 2 of the 7800s?

Also, those PSUs with the Sonata aren't too good.

I did go ahead and take the advice of two (1gb) sticks of ram, but that stretched my budget as far as it would go.

I realize that the 570 chipset is old, but is it bad enough that I should spend the extra $50 to go with the board you linked? As rhetorical as it sounds, that is an actual question...

And I do not ever plan on running two 7800's in SLI, but I needed a vid card that fit my budget right now, and that 7800 did. I plan on upgrading to an 8800gts in the future, and then another one not too long after that. But that 7800 should allow for some decent light gaming right now.

Thanks for the tip on the Sonata PSU, by the way. After you said that I went through the newegg customer reviews for the case, and it turns out quite a few people have had some problems with it. I think that I am going to go ahead and look for another one right away. Any recommendations on a good/quiet ~800watt PSU?

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: regnez

Originally posted by: moosey

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should get either 2x1GB or 2x512MB memory modules, so you'll run in dual channel mode.
I would NOT get an nvidia based board. Get a motherboard with an Intel chipset. A Gigabyte 965P-based board is what I would recommend.

Agreed...

I'd forget about the SLI and go with something on the P965 chipset. The 570 chipset is old and replaced by the 650i.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017
What are you going to run in SLI anyway? 2 of the 7800s?

Also, those PSUs with the Sonata aren't too good.

I did go ahead and take the advice of two (1gb) sticks of ram, but that stretched my budget as far as it would go.

I realize that the 570 chipset is old, but is it bad enough that I should spend the extra $50 to go with the board you linked? As rhetorical as it sounds, that is an actual question...

And I do not ever plan on running two 7800's in SLI, but I needed a vid card that fit my budget right now, and that 7800 did. I plan on upgrading to an 8800gts in the future, and then another one not too long after that. But that 7800 should allow for some decent light gaming right now.

Thanks for the tip on the Sonata PSU, by the way. After you said that I went through the newegg customer reviews for the case, and it turns out quite a few people have had some problems with it. I think that I am going to go ahead and look for another one right away. Any recommendations on a good/quiet ~800watt PSU?

i hope you are joking about a 800W psu....unless you plan on running 2x8800gtxs, but then you would need a monitor that supported 2560x1200 or whatever it comes out to. what display are you running?

 

[moosey]

If it were me, I'd spend the money on the board at this time and get that good basic foundation. I'd then add the RAM later since that takes all of 2min to install. I wouldn't want to base a newer system like this on an older nvidia chipset.

As far as boards go, these are the popular/good ones on the 965chipset around your budget...
Asus P5B (if no o/c)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131030
Asus P5B-e (if you need o/c over the above)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131070
Gigabyte as I linked before, as well as the DS3 (basically just has all solid-state caps)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

I'd still scrap the SLI thing though. Skip the SLI when you upgrade and just get one 8800GTX.

PSU - 800watt is a lot but if you want that much look here
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/home/ (I have the silencer 610)
Also, look at the Seasonic models, Silverstone, FSP, Enhance...good brands along those lines.

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: bob4432

i hope you are joking about a 800W psu....unless you plan on running 2x8800gtxs, but then you would need a monitor that supported 2560x1200 or whatever it comes out to. what display are you running?

Yeah, like I said run the 1 8800GTX and get a smaller PSU...save $$

EDIT:
You know what else, if you're buying a new PSU, that Antec case weighs about a ton...I just got rid of one for a Lian Li. I got the PC 7B+....black aluminum. Also has a bit more room to work inside.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: moosey
If it were me, I'd spend the money on the board at this time and get that good basic foundation. I'd then add the RAM later since that takes all of 2min to install. I wouldn't want to base a newer system like this on an older nvidia chipset.

or base it with the idea that in a couple of months you are going to go through all the trouble to re-install everything. that is at least a 3-4hr job considering actually taking out the m/b and re-installing just the os, and numerous other hours installing everything else and tweaking it so it is just right....

 

[moosey]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: moosey
If it were me, I'd spend the money on the board at this time and get that good basic foundation. I'd then add the RAM later since that takes all of 2min to install. I wouldn't want to base a newer system like this on an older nvidia chipset.

or base it with the idea that in a couple of months you are going to go through all the trouble to re-install everything. that is at least a 3-4hr job considering actually taking out the m/b and re-installing just the os, and numerous other hours installing everything else and tweaking it so it is just right....

couldn't have said it better

 

[regnez]

Alright, so I think I'll go with the Asus P5B-e instead, a ~600watt PSU, 1gb ram (for now), the 7800 (for now), and upgrade to another gig of ram and the 8800gtx in the future.

Is this good or no?

And right now I am running a crappy HP monitor, but I am getting a 24" Dell in April.

 

[moosey]

sounds a lot better to me...should be a real nice system...good luck

 

[regnez]

Originally posted by: moosey
sounds a lot better to me...should be a real nice system...good luck

Alright, I am going to go ahead and order then.

Thanks everyone for all the advice!